We suggest that you familiarize yourself with one of the best stories in the work of Valentin Grigorievich and present his analysis. Rasputin published French Lessons in 1973. The writer himself does not distinguish him from his other works. He notes that he did not have to invent anything, because everything described in the story happened to him. A photo of the author is presented below.
The meaning of the title of this story
The word "lesson" has two meanings in the work created by Rasputin ("French Lessons"). An analysis of the story allows us to note that the first of them is a school hour devoted to a certain subject. The second is something instructive. It is this meaning that becomes decisive for understanding the design of the story we are interested in. The boy taught the lessons of warmth and kindness through the teacher through the whole of his life.
Who is the story about?
Kapylova Anastasia Prokopyevna devoted Rasputin "French lessons", the analysis of which we are interested. This woman is the mother of Alexander Vampilov, a famous playwright and friend Valentin Grigoryevich. She worked all her life at school. The memories of children's life formed the basis of the story. According to the writer himself, the events of the past were able to warm even with a weak touch.
French teacher
Lidia Mikhailovna in the work is named after her own name (her last name is Molokova). The writer in 1997 talked about meeting her with the correspondent of the publication "Literature at School". He told me that Lidia Mikhailovna was visiting him, and they remembered the school, the village of Ust-Uda and much of that happy and difficult time.
Features of the story genre
In the genre of "French lessons" - a story. In the 20s (Zoshchenko, Ivanov, Babel), and then in the 60-70s (Shukshin, Kazakov and others), the Soviet story flourished. This genre reacts more quickly than all other prosaic to changes in the life of society, since it is written faster.
We can assume that the story is the first and oldest of the literary genera. After all, a brief retelling of some event, for example, a duel with an enemy, a case on the hunt and the like, is already, in fact, an oral story. Unlike all other types and kinds of art, the story of humanity is inherent in the ancestral. It arose along with speech and is not only a means of transmitting information, but also acts as an instrument of public memory.
The work of Valentin Grigorievich is realistic. In the first person wrote Rasputin "French Lessons." Analyzing it, we note that this story can be considered fully autobiographical.
The main themes of the work
Starting the work, the writer asks the question of why we always feel guilty before the teachers, as well as before the parents. And the blame is not for what happened at school, but for what happened to us after. Thus, the author defines the main themes of his work: the relationship of the student and teacher, the image illuminated by the moral and spiritual meaning of life, the formation of a hero who gains spiritual experience thanks to Lidia Mikhailovna. Communication with the teacher, French lessons became for the narrator the education of feelings, life lessons.
Money game
The play of a teacher with a student for money, it would seem, is an immoral act. However, what is behind it? The answer to this question is given in the work of V. G. Rasputin (French Lessons). The analysis reveals the motives that drive Lidia Mikhailovna.
Seeing that in the post-war hungry years, the student is malnourished, the teacher invites him under the guise of additional classes to her home to feed. She sends him a package, supposedly from her mother. But the boy refuses her help. The idea did not succeed with the premise: there were "urban" products in it, and the teacher gave herself away. Then Lidia Mikhailovna offers him a game for money and, of course, “loses” so that the boy can buy milk for these pennies. The woman is happy that she succeeds in this deception. And she is not at all condemned by Rasputin (French Lessons). The analysis carried out by us even allows us to say that the writer supports it.
The culmination of the work
The culmination of the work comes after this game. The story to the extreme exacerbates the paradox of the situation. The teacher did not know that at that time such a relationship with the ward could lead to dismissal and even criminal liability. This boy did not know until the end. But when trouble nevertheless happened, he began to understand the behavior of his school teacher more deeply and realized some aspects of the life of that time.
Story finale
Almost melodramatic is the ending of the story created by Rasputin (French Lessons). An analysis of the work shows that the parcel with Antonov apples (and the boy never tried them, since he was a resident of Siberia) seems to have something in common with the unsuccessful first parcel with pasta - city food. This ending, which was by no means unexpected, is also preparing new touches. In the story, the heart of a country mistrustful boy opens before the purity of a teacher. Rasputin's story is surprisingly modern. The writer portrayed in him the courage of a young woman, the insight of an ignorant, withdrawn child, and taught the reader lessons in humanity.
The idea of the story is that we learn the feelings, not life from books. Rasputin notes that literature is the education of feelings such as nobility, purity, kindness.
main characters
We continue the analysis of the work “French Lessons” by V. G. Rasputin with a description of the main characters. They are in the story an 11-year-old boy and Lidia Mikhailovna. She was no more than 25 years old at that time. The author notes that there was no cruelty in her face. She reacted to the boy with sympathy and understanding, was able to appreciate his determination. The teacher in her student considered great learning abilities and was ready to help them develop. This woman is endowed with compassion for people, as well as kindness. She had to suffer for these qualities, losing her job.

In the story, the boy amazes with determination, the desire to learn and go out in people under any circumstances. He entered fifth grade in 1948. In the village where the boy lived, there was only an elementary school. Therefore, he had to go to the district center, located 50 km away, in order to continue his studies. For the first time, an 11-year-old boy by reason of circumstances was cut off from his family, from his usual environment. But he understands that not only relatives, but also the village have his hopes. According to fellow villagers, he should become a "learned man." And the hero makes all his efforts for this, overcoming his homesickness and hunger in order not to let his countrymen down.
With kindness, wise humor, humanity and psychological accuracy depicts a relationship with a young teacher, a hungry student Rasputin ("French Lessons"). The analysis of the work presented in this article will help you understand them. The narrative, rich in everyday details, slowly flows, but its rhythm gradually captures.
Language of the work
Simple and expressive at the same time is the language of the work, the author of which is Valentin Rasputin (French Lessons). The analysis of its linguistic features reveals the skillful use of phraseological turns in the story. The author thereby achieves the imagery and expressiveness of the work ("to sell with giblets", "like snow on his head", "after the sleeves", etc.).
One of the language features is also the presence of outdated vocabulary, which was characteristic of the duration of the work, as well as regional words. This, for example: "lodge", "one and a half", "tea", "toss", "blather", "bale", "hlyuzda", "soldering". After analyzing Rasputin’s novel “French Lessons” yourself, you can find other similar words.
The moral value of the work
The main character of the story had to learn in difficult times. The post-war years were a serious test for adults and children. In childhood, as you know, both bad and good are perceived much sharper and brighter. However, difficulties also temper character, and the protagonist often shows such qualities as determination, endurance, a sense of proportion, pride, and willpower. The moral value of the work lies in the chanting of eternal values - philanthropy and kindness.
The value of Rasputin
The work of Valentin Rasputin invariably attracts more and more readers, because next to everyday, everyday in his works there are always moral laws, spiritual values, unique characters, a contradictory and complex inner world of characters. The writer's thoughts about man, about life, about nature help him find in the world around him and in himself inexhaustible reserves of beauty and goodness.
This concludes the analysis of the story "French Lessons". Rasputin is now one of the classical authors whose works are studied at school. Of course, this is an outstanding master of modern fiction.